There is hope to be found among those programs huddling along the bottom half of the Sun Belt Conference standings.

Once again, expect the chase for the 2016 conference championship to center on a cast of familiar characters. Arkansas State, the defending champion, has built itself into one of the most consistent programs on the Group of Five level.

Despite an offseason coaching change, Georgia Southern should remain a strong threat to regain its post atop the conference standings. Georgia State’s unexpected rise to bowl eligibility a year ago paints the Panthers as a program with increasing growth potential in 2016 and beyond.

Appalachian State was one of just 14 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision to win 11 or more games last fall, joining Alabama, Stanford, San Diego State, Western Kentucky, Iowa, Ohio State, Michigan State, TCU, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Clemson, Houston and Navy.

Meanwhile, those trailing the lead pack will attempt to make subtle steps up the conference ladder — with varying degrees of hope and optimism. UL Lafayette tumbled out of bowl eligibility last season, stung not just by its on-field slide but by a series of troubling NCAA violations that led to 22 wins being stripped from coach Mark Hudspeth’s record with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

South Alabama and Troy might be close. Texas State and its new coach, Everett Withers, have access to its home state’s recruiting grounds. After bottoming out in 2015, ULM begins what could be a torturous climb out of the cellar behind first-year coach Matt Viator.

Then there’s Idaho and New Mexico State, two programs set to play out the string as Sun Belt members before being jettisoned from the league’s ranks following the 2016 season.

Three spring story lines

1. Offense leads at Troy. Neal Brown’s biggest impact during his debut season could be seen on offense, where the former Kentucky offensive coordinator led the Trojans to a meaningful leap in most major categories after a disappointing slide in Larry Blakeney’s final season. It still wasn’t good enough: Troy finished 10th in the conference in yards per game and sixth in scoring.

There’s every reason to believe Brown will bring his offense to greater heights in 2016 — and he’ll need to do just that in order for Troy to match wits with Arkansas State and others in the push for bowl eligibility. That will create pressure on junior quarterback Brandon Silvers, who brings increased confidence and a strong familiarity with Brown’s system into his third season as the starter.

2. New staff prepares for a brutal schedule. There have been nothing but positive signs from new Georgia Southern coach Tyson Summers and his staff, which compiled the Sun Belt’s strongest recruiting class during the brief time between Summers’ arrival and national signing day. Such an influx of talent will help Summers maintain the Eagles’ current status as one of the league’s annual contenders.

Making matters more difficult will be the league’s toughest 2016 schedule. The Eagles face Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and Western Michigan on the road in nonconference play, and must also take on away dates with Arkansas State and Georgia State — though a key matchup with Appalachian State comes at home.

That makes Summers’ first spring with the program all the more vital. While the new staff won’t reinvent the wheel — wisely, Summers will retain the same general offensive philosophy as used by his predecessor, Willie Fritz — the Eagles will nonetheless hit a learning curve in his first offseason with the program.

3. Seven or more wins at Georgia State. The job Trent Miles has done building Georgia State into a bowl team has been as remarkable as it has been unnoticed: Miles took a young and unproven program from just one win in his first two seasons to six wins and a spot in the Cure Bowl in 2015.

More work remains to be done before the Panthers can be viewed as the favorite in the Sun Belt, particularly given the nature of those teams atop the conference standings — Arkansas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern show no sign on giving back ground in the push for a league title. But the progress made a season ago will carry into this offseason, as a team with enough confidence and experience to build upon last fall takes aim at seven or more wins during the regular season.

Five impact newcomers

1. Appalachian State WR Darrynton Evans. With the loss of three senior receivers from last season, Appalachian State plans on Evans being a part of the passing game as a freshman.

2. Arkansas State OL Brandon Berg. One of several early enrollees in Arkansas State’s spring camp, Berg should challenge for a meaningful role along the interior of the offensive line.

3. Georgia Southern DB Monquavion Brinson. Summers’ first signing class included a number of players who could contribute from the start, including this three-star cornerback from Atlanta.

4. South Alabama DT Zach Befort. Adding Befort from a Kansas junior college will help the Jaguars improve upon last season’s abysmal performance stopping the run.

5. Texas State RB Tyler Tutt. The opportunity is there for Tutt to earn early carries as the Bobcats replace last year’s two leading running backs.